Pricing Guide · October 2026 · 6 min read
How Much Does Social Media Management Cost for Tradesmen in the UK? (2026 Price Guide)
DIY, freelancer or agency? An honest 2026 breakdown of what UK tradesmen actually pay for social media management — and what you should get for your money.
The Short Answer
Most UK tradesmen pay somewhere between £150 and £2,000 a month for social media management, depending on who does it and how much is included. At ToolTalks Media, packages start from £249 a month, run by an ex-tradesman, with no long contracts.
But price on its own tells you nothing. Here's what each option really costs you.
Option 1: Doing It Yourself
On paper, DIY is free. In reality it costs you your evenings.
- Taking and choosing photos, writing captions, posting and replying takes most trades 3–5 hours a week.
- Posting goes quiet the moment you get busy — exactly when you should be showing off your work.
- Inconsistent pages put homeowners off. An account that last posted in March looks like a business that's closed.
If your time is worth £30–£50 an hour, DIY quietly costs £400–£1,000 a month in lost time.
Option 2: A Freelancer
Freelancers typically charge £150–£500 a month. Some are brilliant. Many are juggling dozens of clients across every industry and don't know the difference between a consumer unit and a combi boiler.
Watch out for:
- Generic stock-photo posts that don't show your real work
- No reporting, so you never know if it's working
- Disappearing when they get a bigger client
Option 3: A Traditional Marketing Agency
Agencies usually charge £1,000–£2,500 a month, often with 12-month contracts and set-up fees on top. You'll get reports, meetings and plenty of marketing jargon.
For a big firm that can work. For most sole traders and small trade teams it's overkill — you're paying for account managers and office rent, not more enquiries.
Option 4: A Trade-Focused Specialist (What We Do)
ToolTalks Media was built by Jason Armstrong, an ex-tradesman who knows how homeowners choose who to trust. Our packages:
- Get Started — from £249/mo: consistent, professional posting on your social media using your real job photos.
- Let's Grow — £449/mo: more content, more platforms and a bigger push for local enquiries.
- Website Design — £399 one-off: a fast, mobile-friendly website built to turn visitors into calls.
No long contracts. No jargon. You send a quick snap of the job — we do the rest. See the full details on our pricing packages.
What You Should Get For Your Money
Whoever you pick, make sure you get:
1. Your real work shown — before and afters, finished jobs, the team on site. 2. Local targeting — posts that mention the towns you work in. 3. Consistency — at least 3 posts a week, every week, busy or not. 4. Someone who understands trades — so you don't spend your time explaining what a fascia board is. 5. No lock-in — if it's working, you'll stay anyway.
Is It Worth It?
One extra extension, re-roof or rewire a year usually pays for social media management several times over. Our clients have already generated thousands of pounds' worth of work — read our case studies to see real results.
Trade-specific help: builders, roofers, electricians and plumbers.
Want an honest chat about what would work for your business? Message Jason on WhatsApp — no sales pitch, just straight advice.